New barramundi farm conditionally approved for WA

Aquaculture company, Global Barramundi has been given the go-ahead by The shire of Wyndham in the East Kimberly to farm barramundi.

Located in the far north of Western Australia, the new development at Lake Argyle is expected to produce up to 600 tonnes of fish per year, as well as generate strong economic benefits for the region.

Shire president John Moulden stated that the council welcomes the development of industries that will be beneficial to the region, however due to failed barramundi projects in the past, the council has placed a restriction on how much land can be used at Lake Argyle, ABC News reports.

“...The council was mindful of the fact there's a limit to the amount of suitable land for this type of proposal,” Moulden told ABC News.

"They granted approval on the condition the lease area be reduced to one hectare."

Moulden says that the council is keen to see the development flourish, but has some reservations for the long term viability of the project.

"The last thing council wants to see is a business that flounders, and we don't want to be in a situation where sometime in the future we're left with a development out there and no business operating from it," he said.

"We don't want to have to deal with derelict and redundant infrastructure so one of the conditions of planning approval will be a cleanup plan."